Getting Up Guide: Sharks, soccer and stoner comedy

By
Alex Baldinger

What are your plans tonight?

Every weekday in the Getting Up Guide, we'll offer our picks for the day's best happenings to help you answer that question before you've even finished your morning coffee. From concerts and plays with good seats still available to gallery openings, happy hours and restaurant deals, check back here each morning. Here's what's happening on Friday:

What's more terrifying than a great white shark launching itself from beneath the surface of the water -- at speeds approaching 25 mph, no less -- to snare an unsuspecting seal or, gulp, surfer? A great white shark blasting out of the water to snare its prey in super-slow-mo HD. Watch every cringe-worthy frame during a sneak preview of the Discovery Channel's "Ultimate Air Jaws" at 8:30 p.m. on Veteran's Plaza in downtown Silver Spring. It's one of the centerpieces of this year's "Shark Week" and will debut on the network Sunday at 9 p.m.

The 2008 documentary "Kicking It" exposed audiences to Street Soccer USA, an organization aimed at improving the lives of the homeless through the Beautiful Game. Now, 16 teams from across the country -- including teams from the District and Montgomery County -- will compete at Kastles Stadium in four-on-four action at the fifth annual Street Soccer USA Cup; 16 of the tournament's individual competitors will be chosen to represent the United States at the Homeless World Cup in Brazil. The opening ceremony is today at 5 p.m. with appearances from Mayor Fenty, Sheila Johnson and other D.C. bigwigs; the tournament continues Saturday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Telling jokes about marijuana to a room packed with cannabis lovers isn't the most intimidating gig in the comedy business. Let's just say if you're inclined to laugh about things like the perils of auditioning a new pot dealer or accidentally leaving your stash in your latest batch of dry cleaning, based on personal experience alone, you will very much enjoy the Marijuana-Logues, an evening of spoken word comedy by Rob Cantrell, Mike Larsen and Tony Camin appearing at the Harman Center for the Arts at 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Friday and Saturday. And if you aren't inclined to laugh at such tomfoolery, well, you can always try Avenue Q around the corner at the Lansburgh.